CALVARY COMMENT November 2021

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

Have a Blessed Harvest!

In this part of the year, we have historically looked at the harvest as a time of plenty and of bounty. Whereas pagan peoples would connect their harvest with idolatry and heathen practices, we Christians see the harvest time as a season of remembrance of what God has done for us. This is not limited to agricultural harvest, as our relatively young nation no longer derives its wealth from the bounty of the soil.

We look to this season of Thanksgiving and recognize that God has brought us through the preceding year, truly a time of tribulation – and we pray that He will continue to safeguard us. As we go into Advent, remembering the greatest Gift from God (His

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Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod English District

208 Woods Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

The Rev. Luke T. Zimmerman, Pastor

Church Office: 717.697.9771

Email: CalvaryLutheranChurch@verizon.net

Parish Web Site: www.calvarylutheranmechanicsburg.org

from the Pastor

Memorable endings. We catalogue those in our minds. It’s why composers put hours into crafting last chords of symphonies, while authors spend similar effort word-crafting their concluding paragraphs. Dramatic finishes to sporting events—the walk-off home run, the buzzer beater shot, the overtime goal—become part of a team’s lore. Both film critics and fans discuss the best final scenes and closing lines of movies.

A memorable ending is part of our Church Year. We encounter it each November and early December, a bit earlier than the civil calendar’s New Year’s Eve. The memorable ending is revealed to us in the days that we label Saintstide and Advent. During these weeks, we are presented with aspects of how this age will come to an end, showing what awaits us at that conclusion. These presentations will be part of our worship services, when we hear Scripture Readings and sing hymns focused on the last things. As we consider them a little ahead of time, we can even get a preview of that memorable ending.

On All Saints Sunday [NOV 7], the First Reading (Re 7:9–17) will show us a vision of the great multitude of believers standing in the Lord’s glorious presence, offering their praise to Him for the eternal salvation He has achieved. Our songs in our worship here on earth will echo the lyrics of that heavenly chorus, as we anticipate being included in that great multitude.

On the Last Sunday of the Church Year [NOV 21], all three Scripture Readings (Is 65:17–25; 1Th 5:1–11; Mt 25:1–13) will reveal aspects of Christ’s glorious return to bring this age to a close and to open the new heaven and new earth to all His followers. We will sing about the Bridegroom who comes, encouraging each other to be ready for His arrival and to be part of His eternal wedding feast.

On the Second Sunday in Advent [DEC 5], the Gospel Reading (Lk 21:25–36) will provide details of how Christ will come with power and great glory to bring full redemption to His people. The signs of the times point us toward that arrival; we encourage that day to come, as we pray for our Savior to take the power and glory and to claim the kingdom as His own.

This is the memorable ending that we Christians look forward to. The Scriptures provide a bit of a spoiler about it, though not disclosing every single detail of what will take place. But we don’t mind that at all. It isn’t meant to be a surprise. The revealed details of that memorable ending provide a preview of the goodness destined to be ours. Our Savior Jesus Christ has made it so. He wants us to have that memorable ending which inaugurates a new, everlasting beginning for us.

So we don’t try to hide what our Savior will do: “He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.” We confess our hope with no disappointment: “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” And we have no qualms in saying: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Because that memorable ending revealed to us is what we want to experience.

Upcoming Dates

Friday, December 24 Christmas Eve Service, 7:00pm

Saturday, December 25 Christmas Divine Service, 10:30am

Thursday, January 6, 2022 Epiphany Divine Service, 7:00pm

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Ash Wednesday (Lent Worship Schedules – TBD)

Stewardship Corner (continued from Page 1)

Son), we should take this season and look upon it with new eyes. We thank God not only for our material blessings but also for our spiritual harvest, the fruit of our Christian upbringing.

In thinking of the Harvest, we must remember that it is also a time of work, hardship, and division. There is no substantive collection of grain without labor. Once the grain is harvested, it must be winnowed – divided from the chaff. Scripture teaches us that the latter will be thrown into the fire. May we remember the words of John the Baptist and safeguard our souls.

We as a Church body may be experiencing a reduced or uncertain harvest this year, especially with uncertainty and hardship constantly at our doorstep. We must remember that we are not alone in this world now or historically. Christians have always faced hardship and persecution, from the very first Church Fathers up to the present day. Uncertainty is often an unfortunate constant, but it must not harden our hearts and prevent us from giving to the Church.

Written with excerpts from the LCMS Stewardship Ministry Newsletter.

ALTAR GUILD UPDATE The Altar Guild is a group of members from our congregation who cares for the altar furnishings, silver, linens and the like. For various reasons, our membership numbers are depleted. Nearly every Altar Guild team could use another person’s help. Our Fall meeting is coming up on November 7 at 12:00pm in the adult Sunday School classroom. Anyone who has an interest in joining the Altar Guild is encouraged to attend. Please speak to any Altar Guild member or Polly Pass about using your abilities in this area of service.

LWML NEWS & NOTESLWML Sunday was celebrated on October 17! Thanks to all who helped to provide the purple “glow”. If you were unable to attend, extra LWML/Ladies Aid Society Mission Reports are on the table in the Narthex for you to take. We have a few activities in the near future that need congregational support: • STUFFING FOR THANKSGIVING MEALS: We supply New Hope

Ministries with 200 boxes of stu"ng mix for inclusion with the meal boxes distributed to families served by the NHM Mechanicsburg Center. The November 7 deadline for this collection is quickly approaching!

• CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKING: This annual event will take place on Wednesday, December 1. starting at 9:00am. Cookies will be made for New Hope Ministries’ Senior Citizens Party and for our MilitaryShare families. A signup sheet for helping on baking day is posted in the Narthex.

• CHRISTMAS BLESSING EXPRESS: This program of New Hope Ministries allows guests to “shop” for gifts for the entire family from items donated by the community. We are gathering items through November 28. Copies of their wish list of age-appropriate items are clipped to the collection bin in the Narthex. In addition, gift cards in the amount of $20 from Target or Walmart are also being requested. Gift cards should be given to Linda Goheen. Unwrapped gift items should be put in the collection bin.

 Our projects are successful because of your support. THANK YOU! The next meeting of LWML is Saturday, November 20 at 9:30am in the adult education room. Hope to see you there!

2021 END OF YEAR ACTIONS FOR THRIVENT MEMBERS

The fourth quarter brings the end to both Choice Dollar funds and Action Team grants for this year.

Now is a good time to develop a project for leftover 2021 action team funds up to $250. The end of December is a good time to direct 2021 Choice Dollars to the charity of your choice as good stewards of our financial resources.

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PARISH GENERAL CASH FLOW REPORT (January 1—September 30, 2021)

INCOME GeneralOffering $140,198.13 MissionOffering 6,078.75 BuildingFund 5,544.75 PlateOffering 5,424.25Memorial 50.00 MyNeighbor 0.001-1-1MissionCollecJon 816.00IniJalOffering 175.00ChurchYearSeasonalServiceOfferings 6,671.00(e.g.Advent,Christmas,Lent,Easter,etc.)

BuildingUse 250.00RefundIncome 8,825.60OtherIncome 25,337.05ThriventChoiceDollars 252.00 LutheranWitness 216.40SundaySchool 0.00OperaJonBarnabas 3,100.00YouthGroup 30.00Preschool 4,638.74 _

TOTALINCOME $207,607.67

EXPENDITURES 1000 PastoralExpenses $72,272.81

(Salary&Benefits)2000 PersonnelExpenses 20,599.73

(Secretary,Organist)3000 RealEstateExpenses 21,384.97

(Insurance,UAliAes)4000 OperaJngExpenses 31,130.82

(Maintenance,Supplies,CustodialServices)5000 MinistryExpenses 3,187.90

(BoardandProgramAcAviAes)6000 MissionSupport 13,800.00

(DistrictPledge,NewHopeMinistries,MissionarySupport)7000 Mortgage 1,392.648000 Non-BudgetedExpenditures 5,991.09 (Revolving,MyNeighbor,Memorial,Preschool)

BudgetedDisbursements $163,768.87Non-BudgetedDisbursements 5,991.09 _

TOTALEXPENDITURES $169,759.96

NETCASHFLOW $37,847.71

CAPITALCAMPAIGNUPDATE(throughSeptember30,2021)

CapitalCampaignPledgedTotal: $305,200.00(from46givingunits)

CapitalCampaignDonationsReceived: $189,187.96

“CALVARY 2020” PROJECT UPDATE (through September 30, 2021)

Calvary 2020 Project Expenditures: $ 348,167.66 This total includes LCEF Loan Fees, Title Insurance, Construction Costs, Pews & Seating, Sound System, and Capital Campaign Costs.

lcms ministry to the armed forces

OPERATION

MILITARY SHARE PROGRAM

Our last distribution was held on October 20. October’s distribution was slated to serve 37 families, totaling 93 people.

We are now a TEFAP (Bonus) site. Being a TEFAP site allows us to receive food from Federal Department of Agriculture for free or at low cost for distribution. October will be our third month as a TEFAP site. As a TEFAP site, we distribute cheese, yogurt, and salads, to name just a few of the extra items.

VETERAN RECOGNITION PLAQUE

Many of our members have seen the Veteran Recognition Plaque displayed in the Social Hall. The purpose of this plaque is to recognize all of the members of Calvary who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces through the years. We’ll always be grateful to a deceased member of Calvary, Jack Schilder, who provided the plaque.

We are proud to add the name of Edwin Miller to this plaque.

Please contact Bob Ardner for more information about this project.

LANCASTER COUNTY VETERANS TREATMENT COURT

Bob Ardner has been trained as a Mentor for the Lancaster County Veterans Treatment Court (VTC). There are currently 21 participants in the VTC program. At times, a participant will need temporary housing, provided by the “Barracks”. This is a small house donated and refurbished to provide short term housing for up to 4 participants at one time.

Bob has had talks with his team Leader about the possibility of donating food to the Barracks for the Veterans living there. We would donate one or two dry boxes that were not picked up by our regular participants. More information will be shared when plans are finalized.

CALVARY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH208 Woods DriveMechanicsburg, PA 17050

Address Service Requested

Next Calvary Comment Deadline is Sunday, November 21, 2021. Please send info to CalvaryComment@Verizon.net

FALL 2021 / WINTER 2022 FESTIVAL WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Our congregation will celebrate several festival days from November 2021 through January 2022:

November 24 – Thanksgiving Vespers @ 7:00pm Join with your fellow parishioners to give thanks for what the LORD has provided to us this year.

December 24 – Christmas Eve Festival Vespers @ 7:00pm Gather to hear about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and to sing our praises for this divine gift.

December 25 – Christmas Day Divine Service @ 10:30am Come to consider and ponder the mystery of God becoming man to bring salvation to us.

January 6 – Epiphany Divine Service @ 7:00pm Recall how the first individuals outside of Israel were led to welcome and worship Jesus Christ, foreshadowing the great mission of the Church.

Mark your calendars to participate in these celebrations of Christ our Lord.

Welcome to the newest members of Calvary!

Pictured above with Pastor Zimmerman are the four individuals received into membership on October 24 (l–r): Bob Davis, Pat Davis, Guy Greeneltch, Karen Appel.

We look forward to their participation within the congregation.